Midwife abducted in Sulu, the 2nd health worker-victim in less than a year

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A midwife was abducted Monday afternoon in Patikul town, the second victim coming from the health sector in less than a year in Sulu province.

Philippine National Police-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP ARMM) Regional Director Chief Supt Mario Avenido confirmed that Rosalyn Kiram, 54, a midwife assigned in Patikul town Rural Health Unit was taken at gunpoint around 3:30 p.m. March 19, at Liang village in Patikul town.

Avenido said they have yet to determine the motive and suspects in the abduction.

In a phone interview, Sulu Provincial Police director Senior Supt. Antonio Freyra said Kiram, a widow, was with her five other Patikul health workers on board their mobile clinic vehicle enroute to Jolo town after performing their usual daily rounds.

“On their way back to Jolo town, armed men flagged down their mobile clinic and at gunpoint snatched all of them,” Freyra said.

After more than an hour five health workers were released except Kiram. The colleagues reported the kidnapping to the local police.

Freyra said the town officials of Patikul immediately called for the Crisis Management Committee to deal with the latest abduction.

He said their personnel are also conducting pursuit operations after the witnesses informed them the captors took Kiram to Barangay (village) Tugas, also in Patikul.

Kiram is the second midwife kidnapped in Sulu.

The first was 57-year-old Evangeline Taverisma of Indanan Rural Health Unit.

Taverisma was abducted on August 3, 2011, while on her way home from Barangay Tagbak.

She was freed on October 6, 2011, in Lanao Daculah village in Parang town after reportedly giving in to undetermined amount for board and lodging.